Gov. Mike Parson has made clear he wants the first piece of legislation on his desk to be a COVID-19 liability protection bill, a position welcomed by business groups.
Two bills, one in each Chamber, are currently making their way through the legislature, with the Senate proposal already receiving a committee hearing.
"And speaking of employers, I hope the first piece of legislation to hit my desk this year is a clean COVID-19 liability protection bill," Parson said in his State of the State address.
Parson
Critics fear that a bill rushed through the legislature will give rogue employers wider protection from lawsuits, but his stance was warmly welcomed by business interests.
"Gov. Mike Parson’s priorities for the year match up with what we are hearing from employers across the state," said Daniel Mehan, president and chief executive of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.
"Businesses are ready to reopen and get Missourians back to work. But they need protection from the wave of frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits that are coming in the wake of this pandemic," Mehan said.
"Right now, Missouri employers are completely exposed to this threat. We urge Missouri lawmakers to heed the governor’s call and make stopping COVID-19 lawsuits the first bill passed this session."
Sponsored by Sen. William White (R-Joplin), SB 42 has already been heard in the chamber's Judiciary Committee. Two other bills have wrapped into White's proposal
Rep. Ed Lewis (R-Moberly), the lead sponsor of HB 759 bill in the House, said he was informed by his decades working as a school teacher, and his continued contacts with his district.
"I know my school district and, like many, the schools do want to be open in-person...but they are terrified somebody suing," Rep. Lewis told the St. Louis Record. "It is making them afraid, and for no purpose. Businesses are the same way."
Lewis added: "I wanted to provide them with some protection, to make it a pretty high bar for someone to sue."
They could only face a potentially successful suit if it can be shown they were wilfully negligent, said Lewis.
And plaintiffs would have to show that they personally were physically harmed by the actions of defendants. the representative said.SB 42 has
"What I am trying to do with the bill is that it says specifically this is about COVID liability, and that it will sunset in 2024," Lewis said. "I would like it to be fast tracked, and put into effect immediately after enactment."